Tubular tyres and wheels

[Old Ned]

Ned, you'll probably remember the Wolber Juniors, Kowalits Kriteriums and Barum tubs. Fond memories of rubbish 1960s kit!

Not half! Although Kowalits and Barums were good vaue for money, a godsend to impecunious schoolboys spending pocket money. I rode several of them into baldness! Actually got 'inside' first time on my 'training' wheels on the Bath Rd (heaving it down with rain!) with a Barum GBP (?) on the back, a 10oz+ indestructible one!

Wolber Juniors were a bit 'iffy' though, cheap but not as good as the east european ones.

Now, what about Soyo's? Brilliant Japanese value tubs, really narrow and smart with white walls. Sounded good too.

 

[legrandefromage]

I confess my lack of knowledge towards the differences between tubulars and innertube tyres...


I cant tell which is which when riding...

 

[Old Ned]

I confess my lack of knowledge towards the differences between tubulars and innertube tyres...


I cant tell which is which when riding...

You will when you puncture :twisted:

Tubulars are easier to change out on the road - if you've got a spare - and a pump!

 

[stedlocks]

I fitted my first ever tubular last night.......it seems to have been a total succes!!

I was dreading it and did a bit of research until my head hurt, then thought "F*** it!" and just went for it

I used tape and pumped the bugger up to 130psi to make sure it seats properly then went out for a quick spin........I'm sure I need to recalibrate the speedo tho, as it was showing me booting along at 30odd MPH :shock:

I havn't noticed any difference, but I have only done a mile or so in the dark last night.........It was a very productive fettle!

 

[dutchie]

I do repair my own. Not a probleme. Once you did try there are no difficulties.

 

[Steve Kish]

I used tape and pumped the bugger up to 130psi to make sure it seats properly

With tape, I used to put this onto the rim, put water onto it and fit the tub - just allowed me a few minutes to make sure it was seated right, after which it dried perfectly.

 

[GarethPJ]

You know I've read some curious things in my time, however Fiks you really take the biscuit. Good looking tyres? They're tyres FFS. They're round and that's about it. And who really cares? They're for riding on, not looking at.

Furthermore most people, even cyclists, couldn't spot the difference between a clincher and a tubular at a range of more than a few feet.

I - and a lot of other people - can. Tubulars on a restored Classic are for looking at - and occasionally riding on. I ride tubulars in some time trials when riding 'Old Skool' and notice the difference. Next year I might fit my Vittoria Crono Seta Extras and get deafened by the roar on smooth dual carriageways!

Whatever you might think, Tubulars do ride 'zippier' than the average 'clincher'(horrid americanism!) and when I were a lad they were all that was available apart from really heavy 27" tyres which didn't fit racing frames. We rode them all year.

Read it again. I didn't say they didn't ride different, I said they don't look any different from more than a few feet away when fitted.

 

[macca85]

I don't have a problem with tubs, there easy enough to get on and off, I keep a spare tyre under the saddle, a pump and some tub tape just incase. I run continental giro tubs btw, there only a tenner so if one does puncture I don't mind lobbing it and just putting a new one on

Stu

 

[stedlocks]

Do you reckon it would work if you put a bit of stans no tubes in the tub it would solve the puncture thing?

 

[GarethPJ]

Do you reckon it would work if you put a bit of stans no tubes in the tub it would solve the puncture thing?

These days you can buy specialist goo for tubs. It's probably exactly the same latex stuff as no tubes.